Retired Los Angeles Rams player Andrew Whitworth denied rumors regarding the Dallas Cowboys’ interest in recruiting him after Tyron Smith was injured.
Whitworth ended his NFL career in February after winning the Super Bowl and playing 16 seasons. He then joined Amazon’s NFL coverage team in his NFL retirement.
#Cowboys making calls, including one to former #Rams T Andrew Whitworth.
(🎥: @nflonprime)
pic.twitter.com/hFTKAODsMe— Joe Trahan (@JoeTrahan) August 26, 2022
The rumor mill
The rumor started when Withworth said that his phone had been active after the preseason ended in an interview for the “Thursday Night Football” broadcasted on Amazon Prime Video.
“I mean, obviously, there’s been some things with the Cowboys and losing Tyron Smith,” Whitworth said.
“It’s just an awful deal. Such a great player, and a guy I’ve always just loved watching play. It’s been a busy day of answering calls. The problem is they’re calling and texting the wrong person. They need to be texting and calling Melissa Whitworth and the kids, because they have final approval on whether I’m ever going to play football again.”
Nope, I’m sorry folks but he never said they called him. He said he’s “received calls about it” but never said the cowboys called. Y’all all sound like lovely people tho down there in Dallas. https://t.co/Lsvk4SaNud
— Melissa Whitworth (@mrs_whit77) August 26, 2022
According to CBS, some people had interpreted his words as a confirmation that the Cowboys had reached out to him.
Whitworth quickly posted a response on Twitter.
“Not what I said,” Whitworth tweeted in response to an article published saying he had indicated Dallas reached out to him. “I said I answered calls and text from people all day since the injury. Begging me to go to the cowboys! Thx.”
Not what I said. I said I answered calls and text from people all day since the injury. Begging me to go to the cowboys! Thx https://t.co/aoyA5DEvuE
— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) August 26, 2022
Whitworth clarified that the people, including Dallas-area media, had called and begged him to visit the Cowboys, not the Cowboys themselves.
Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons even replied to Whitworth’s tweet.
“We’ll love you!! Big whit!” Parsons wrote.
We’ll love you!! Big whit!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 26, 2022
However, despite Whitworth’s response, Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk continued to speculate in his follow-up article on Pro Football Talk.
He said that Whitworth was attempting to avoid accusing the Cowboys of tampering. Whitworth is listed on the Rams’ reserve-retired list because he was still under contract with the team when he retired.
“At a minimum, Whitworth was cheekily trying to create the impression that the Cowboys have been calling him when, in reality, they haven’t been,” Florio wrote. “At worst, the Cowboys were calling him — and also were committing a blatant tampering violation.”
Andrew, you said what you said. You created the impression that the Cowboys called. If you're going to work in TV, you need to own your words and not blame others for hearing your words and reacting to them. Have a great Friday folks! https://t.co/VjeUNbHbQC
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 26, 2022
Whitworth replied with several tweets.
“I answered many messages yesterday from national and a few dallas sports reporters and journalist,” Whitworth wrote. “The “people” I mentioned last night. Asking me if cowboys had reached out? Or if I was interested? Answer was “No” 2 both! Appreciate them for doing it the right way! !”
I answered many messages yesterday from national and a few dallas sports reporters and journalist.
☝🏼 The “people” I mentioned last night. Asking me if cowboys had reached out? Or if I was interested?
Answer was “No” 2 both! Appreciate them for doing it the right way!
✌🏼!— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) August 26, 2022
Moreover, Whitworth even addressed the Pro Football Talk directly.
“Twitter really be like this? @profootballtalk trash talking me now? “For Every question not asked, an assumption is made” Was honest and transparent about my getting blown up,” Whitworth added. “And authentic saying people need to ask fam! Never said’s called Miss me with “insinuation”!”
Twitter really be like this? @ProFootballTalk trash talking me now?
“For Every question not asked, an assumption is made”
Was honest and transparent about my 📞 getting blown up. And authentic saying people need to ask fam!
Never said 🤠’s called
Miss me with “insinuation”! 🤣— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) August 26, 2022
The Cowboys have also denied contacting Whitworth. According to Josina Anderson’s report on Friday morning, Dallas is “turning to in-house players” and won’t be pursuing Whitworth in free agency after roster reductions next week.
“On replacing #Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (avulsion fracture, knee) I’m told the team is turning to in-house players, while working through options on the free agent market after more cuts, per source,” Anderson reported.
“I’m told that doesn’t currently include Andrew Whitworth (retired), under contract.”
On replacing #Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (avulsion fracture, knee) I’m told the team is turning to in-house players, while working through options on the free agent market after more cuts, per source. I’m told that doesn’t currently include Andrew Whitworth (retired), under contract.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 26, 2022